The Saipan Garment Manufacturers Association is seeking an audience with the 14th Legislature to inform its presiding officers and members of the current state of the industry.

"There are definite things that can and should be done to protect our companies, which provide jobs, income, taxes and sales to support service companies and their employees here in Saipan. This is our midnight hour, and we respectfully request to be heard for decisive action now," said SGMA Chairman James Lin.

SGMA Executive Director Richard Pierce, in a letter to House Speaker Benigno R. Fitial and Senate President Joaquin G. Adriano, requested a joint session to present SGMA's updated report entitled, "The State of the Saipan Garment Industry."

"As the largest single source of revenue to the CNMI, we offer to inform and educate our elected leaders on what we feel they should understand before making their best possible decisions with respect to our industry and how it could affect the economy as a whole", said Pierce.

The association has presented similar industry oversight sessions in the past.

The Power Point presentation would include the Saipan garment industry's evolution and history, its economic contributions to the government and community, its local spending habits, its clients, SGMA's Code of Conduct and monitoring, future challenges with global quota elimination and how the CNMI could assist the industry to remain competitive and of benefit to the CNMI.


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